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2021/2022

Spanish Politics

Code: 101078 ECTS Credits: 12
Degree Type Year Semester
2500259 Political Science and Public Management OB 2 A
The proposed teaching and assessment methodology that appear in the guide may be subject to changes as a result of the restrictions to face-to-face class attendance imposed by the health authorities.

Contact

Name:
Ricard Vilaregut Saez
Email:
Ricard.Vilaregut@uab.cat

Use of Languages

Principal working language:
catalan (cat)
Some groups entirely in English:
No
Some groups entirely in Catalan:
Yes
Some groups entirely in Spanish:
Yes

Other comments on languages

Students requiring language support are given a special attention. in English or French

Teachers

Ricard Vilaregut Saez
Juan Pérez Rajó
Aránzazu Tirado Sánchez

Prerequisites

Students must master the essential elements of the introductory course to Political Science

 

 

 

Objectives and Contextualisation

 

The course aims at making students familiar with the main features of the Spanish political system, its problems and its evolutionnary trends.

 

The course aims at giving to students conceptual elements, as well as methodological instruments, beyond a simple "memoristic" approach

Competences

  • Applying the knowledge of the structure and operations of political institutions to problems and practical, real or simulated cases.
  • Arguing from different theoretical perspectives.
  • Connecting the different components that shape the structure and operations of political systems and the environment where they interact.
  • Demonstrating good writing skills in different contexts.
  • Demonstrating knowledge about the structure and working of the European Union and its main institutions, as well as identifying the main political actors and recognising the main means of integration.
  • Demonstrating the comprehension of the structure and functioning of political systems in the internal and international arena, both in the analytic area and in the elaboration of intervention proposals or public policies.
  • Demonstrating the understanding of the structure and operations of political institutions.
  • Identifying sources of data and conducting bibliographic and documentary searches.
  • Managing the available time in order to accomplish the established objectives and fulfil the intended task.
  • Managing the main theoretical formulations about political institutions and connecting them with the global structure of political systems, both in the internal and international arenas.
  • Realising effective oral presentations that are suited to the audience.
  • Showing a good capacity for transmitting information, distinguishing key messages for their different recipients.
  • Synthesizing and critically analysing information.
  • Using the main information and documentation techniques (ICT) as an essential tool for the analysis.
  • Working autonomously.
  • Working by using quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques in order to apply them to research processes.
  • Working in teams and networking, particularly in interdisciplinary conditions.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analysing the electoral processes, including campaigns, parties' electoral strategies, political scenarios and analysis and interpretation of electoral results.
  2. Arguing from different theoretical perspectives.
  3. Connecting the different components that shape the structure and operations of political systems and the environment where they interact.
  4. Demonstrating good writing skills in different contexts.
  5. Demonstrating knowledge about the structure and working of the European Union and its main institutions, as well as identifying the main political actors and recognising the main means of integration.
  6. Demonstrating the comprehension of the structure and functioning of political systems in the internal and international arena, both in the analytic area and in the elaboration of intervention proposals or public policies.
  7. Explaining political, individual and collective attitudes and behaviours, as well as the education process and expression of political preferences.
  8. Identifying and distinguishing the functioning of the electoral processes.
  9. Identifying sources of data and conducting bibliographic and documentary searches.
  10. Managing the available time in order to accomplish the established objectives and fulfil the intended task.
  11. Realising effective oral presentations that are suited to the audience.
  12. Showing a good capacity for transmitting information, distinguishing key messages for their different recipients.
  13. Synthesizing and critically analysing information.
  14. Using the main information and documentation techniques (ICT) as an essential tool for the analysis.
  15. Working autonomously.
  16. Working by using quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques in order to apply them to research processes.
  17. Working in teams and networking, particularly in interdisciplinary conditions.

Content

 

Bloc I : The Spanish political tradition : Cleavages in Spanish politics. Constitutional history ( 1812 - 1931). 2nd. Republic and Francoism. Democratic transition and constitutional process

Bloc II : The Political Institutions: the 1978 Constitution. Welfare and democratic State, rule of law and parliamentary Monarchy. Parliament, Government and the Courts. The Constitutional Court. The regionalization of Spain. Spain in the EU. Politics and policy making in the democratic Spain.

Bloc III : Electoral system: General elections; regional and local elections. Electoral behavior.

Bloc IV : Political culture and political actors. Citizen attitudes and participation. The Spanish party system. Political parties. Interest groups, collective action and social movements. Social actors, political parties and institutions.

Methodology

The course has a value of 12 ECTS, which mean a work load for the student of 300 hours, distributed as follows:

- 105 hours of general, teaching activities: lectures, seminars, etc.

- 45 hours of supervised work, conducted by the student outside the classroom, under teacher's supervision

- 150 hours of self-directed work by the student, which include readings, preparation of seminars, personal, study, etc.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Lectures 96 3.84 6, 3
Practices 16 0.64 6, 4, 10, 3
Type: Supervised      
Personal interviews 10 0.4 6, 4, 15
Preparation of papers, presentations, etc.. 28 1.12 10, 9, 15
Type: Autonomous      
Personal work by the student 138 5.52 10, 15

Assessment

 

The course is evaluated on a continuous evaluation basis, including several elements:

- Partial written test, after the 1st semester, which represents 25 % of the final grade. Required: 5 on 10,

. Partial written test, after the 2nd semester, which represents 25 %, and requires 5 / 10

- Seminars ( or "practices"), based on readings and discussions. There will be 4 such seminars with an aggregate value of 20 % of the final grade. Each seminar has a maximum value of 1 point in the final grade.

- Writing and presentation of a research group -work, which amounts to 30 % of the final grade.

- Regular attendance and participation in classes is taken into account 

Students having attended 1 or more evaluation activities will get a grade. There will a "recuperation" exam after the publication of the grades for those students who have failed one semester test 

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
1st. bloc practice 10 % 1.5 0.06 1, 4, 10, 15
2nd bloc practice 10% 1.5 0.06 4, 10, 15
2nd. semester Exam 25 % 2 0.08 2, 6, 4, 10, 9, 12, 3, 13, 16, 15, 14
3rd bloc practic 10 % 1.5 0.06 6, 4, 10, 15
4th loc practice 10% 1.5 0.06 1, 6, 4, 7, 10, 9, 3, 15, 17
First semester exam 25% 2 0.08 6, 4, 10, 12, 3, 13, 16
Group research - work 10 % 2 0.08 1, 2, 6, 5, 4, 7, 11, 10, 9, 8, 3, 16, 15, 17, 14

Bibliography

 

 SEE CATALAN SECTION

Software

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